Chapter 63: Chapter 44: The Emperor’s Grand Gift (Part 2)
"County Princess, which of your questions do you think I can possibly answer? You’re just making things difficult for me. And since you’re putting me in such a bind, would I be a fool not to leave?"
He Lan Yun had never met someone as shameless as Song Yunzhao. She was even more unreasonable than He Lan Yun herself, yet she could never win an argument against her.
Seeing He Lan Yun’s expression, Song Yunzhao felt a rare twinge of guilt. "County Princess, shall we head back together?"
"Hmph!" He Lan Yun felt a little better. "You are the most infuriating person I have ever met."
"I couldn’t possibly accept such a title. I’m no match for you, County Princess."
He Lan Yun took a deep breath, but in the end, she couldn’t hold back. With a flick of her sleeve, she stormed off!
’Why on earth did I even bother trying to talk to Song Yunzhao?’
Song Yunzhao followed a short distance behind He Lan Yun, sighing inwardly as she watched her impetuous figure. ’If she doesn’t learn to rein in that temper of hers, she’s bound to suffer for it in the future.’
’Then again, what business do I have pitying a County Princess with a higher status than my own? I should save the pity for myself.’
When the two returned to Qiushui Pavilion, one after the other, most of the young women had already submitted their embroidery. A few were strolling outside to stretch their legs, but it was clear no one intended to wander far. Song Yunzhao scanned the room before returning to her table and sitting down.
Song Yexi had just submitted her embroidery. Seeing Yun Zhao upon her return, she quickly sat down and asked, "Where did you go? What took you so long?"
"I went to get something to eat." Song Yunzhao smiled at Song Yexi. "Ms. Xi, you should go get a bite, too. I think it’ll be a while before the results are announced. It will take a lot of time to judge so many pieces of embroidery."
Song Yexi hesitated. She was, in fact, a little hungry. "Where are they serving food?"
Song Yunzhao pointed her in the right direction. "Don’t wander off," Song Yexi reminded her. "I’ll be back shortly."
Song Yunzhao agreed with a perfectly behaved expression.
Only then did Song Yexi relax and head out. She paused to speak with some of the concubines strolling outside, and Song Yunzhao watched as several of them decided to go with her.
She smiled and rested her head on the table, hoping to get a little rest.
’Song Yexi is more tactful and considerate than I am. That’s a good thing.’
The late spring breeze was gentle and warm, carrying the scent of lotus leaves from Kunlun Lake. It made her drowsy, and in the hazy state between waking and sleep, she thought she saw herself from her past life.
She couldn’t tell what her past self was smiling about, but her face was lit up with a huge grin as she walked down a road toward home. Suddenly, she turned and looked back. Across the illusory chasm of time and space, their eyes met for an instant, and Song Yunzhao jolted awake.
She lifted her head and felt beads of sweat on her forehead. After taking out a handkerchief to wipe them away, she finally felt a bit more comfortable.
"Miss Song, are you all right? Why are you sweating so much?"
Song Yunzhao looked up, surprised for a moment to see Han Jinyi standing before her table. She quickly smiled and said, "I’m fine. I just took a short nap and must have gotten too warm."
Song Yunzhao simply offered a small nod, whether Han Jinyi believed her excuse or not. "A lot of people are over there admiring the view of the lake," Han Jinyi continued. "Would Miss Song like to go see?"
"I’d better not. I just broke into a sweat, and I might catch a chill in the breeze," Song Yunzhao declined. ’Trouble always brews in crowded places, and I have no desire to get involved.’
"How thoughtless of me," Han Jinyi said with an apologetic expression.
Song Yunzhao really couldn’t fathom Han Jinyi’s motive for striking up a conversation. After a moment’s thought, she asked, "Aren’t you going to take a look, Miss Han?"
Han Jinyi shook her head. "I’m not fond of crowds either. Forgive me for disturbing you, Miss Song."
As Song Yunzhao watched Han Jinyi walk away, she felt even more perplexed. ’Still, I didn’t sense any malice from her. Perhaps she really did just want to talk.’
Her sleepiness gone, Song Yunzhao stood up and walked around the pavilion to stretch her limbs. She heard some young women chattering excitedly nearby about wanting to go boating on the lake. A small smile touched her lips as she leaned against a pillar, her gaze fixed on the crowd in the distance.
’One group was centered around He Lan Yun, while another clustered around Qin Xiyue. They looked like two clearly-drawn battle lines. How interesting.’
’She knew that the rapid formation of these factions surely had something to do with their families’ political allegiances, but that was none of her concern.’
’Now that He Lan Yun was among the concubines, events were already deviating greatly from the trajectory of the book. In the book, without He Lan Yun present, no one would have dared to so brazenly oppose Qin Xiyue.’
’Even Song Qinghan, in her jealousy of the heroine, had only started making her moves slowly after she was officially selected to remain in the palace.’
At this thought, Song Yunzhao began to search for Song Qinghan. But after scanning the crowd several times, she couldn’t find her anywhere, and her brow furrowed in thought.
